NHL thread for 2014-2015

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**whembly**

Congrats to Chicago!

I gotta say, it's pretty damned impressive acquiring all those cups in recent years. It's MUCH harder to build a dynasty these days.

Great season, and until next year.

LET'S GO BLUES!

**djones520**

I was secretly hoping Tampa would pull it off.

But if a team has got to build a dynasty, and it can't be the Wings, might as well be the Hawks.

Now, a true test of how good the team is, to see how well they survive the post-season. Their going to be hurting cap wise, and are going to be forced to shed some of their talent.

**dogma**

djones520 wrote:

But if a team has got to build a dynasty, and it can't be the Wings, might as well be the Hawks.

Might as well be a Bowman.

djones520 wrote:

Now, a true test of how good the team is, to see how well they survive the post-season. Their going to be hurting cap wise, and are going to be forced to shed some of their talent.

The obvious resigns are Saad, Oduya, and Kruger. The real question is Vermette v. Richards.

**Ghazkuul**

keep in mind that those 9million dollar contracts kick off this season

**dogma**

Which 9 million USD cap hits would those be?

**Experiment 626**

Now we can get hyped for Canada Day and the start of Free Agency!

Most exciting thing to see is actually the Maple Loafs for once, as there's tons of dead weight that needs dumping, and there's been talk around them potentially bundling one of their 1st round picks to perhaps help move out certain issue players...

My poor Habs on the other hand need to build themselves a proper secondary scoring line that can be consistent game-to-game, instead of the current monster we have that goes bonkers for 2-4 games, and then disappears for the next week and a bit.

**kronk**

Hlaine Larkin mk2 wrote:
Not been on Dakka in a while but The Hawks are in the finals
As for predictions I think the Hawks win in 6

Someone was right on the money!

**Ensis Ferrae**

Man, I'm so glad those guys won, really lets all the Michael Jordan fans know that the organization still cares about the sport and the city. Although, lets' be honest here, Patrick Kane doesn't hold a candle to MJ's greatness

**djones520**

dogma wrote:
Which 9 million USD cap hits would those be?

According to some sources I've seen, Kane and Toews are going to be worth 10 mil a piece in cap space next season.

**dogma**

djones520 wrote:

According to some sources I've seen, Kane and Toews are going to be worth 10 mil a piece in cap space next season.

They're cap hit will be at least 10.5 million each, but the 'Hawks can easily clear cap space by dealing Sharp and cutting Bickell. Rozsival is likely gone as well.

**whembly**

dogma wrote:
djones520 wrote:

According to some sources I've seen, Kane and Toews are going to be worth 10 mil a piece in cap space next season.

They're cap hit will be at least 10.5 million each, but the 'Hawks can easily clear cap space by dealing Sharp and cutting Bickell. Rozsival is likely gone as well.

I really like Sharp.

He's getting old... but, he's one of those guys that can "turn it on" during the playoffs.

Too bad the Blues can't afford him... we're pretty much up at the cap and needing to deal one of our core players in order to pay for Taransenko.

Oshie and/or Burgland seems to be the prime candidate to be dealt.

Maybe, shockingly, Petrangelo.

We'll see... I think things starts rocking after the 1st of July.

**Hlaine Larkin mk2**

dogma wrote:
djones520 wrote:

According to some sources I've seen, Kane and Toews are going to be worth 10 mil a piece in cap space next season.

They're cap hit will be at least 10.5 million each, but the 'Hawks can easily clear cap space by dealing Sharp and cutting Bickell. Rozsival is likely gone as well.

Another option could (Highly unlikely but not impossible) would be to trade away Crawford ($6m Cap hit) and rolling with Ranta & Darling (Who combine for $1.1m)
Sharpie will likely be dealt as well as Bicks, but I'd like to see them try & retain Desjardin and Krugs, the 4th line really performed well this post season when Desjardin wasn't being scratched all the time. Steeger is also likely to be gone and Richards not resigned but if they could resign Vermette that's the top 2 lines sorted if Saad resigns

**djones520**

Good luck finding someone to want to pay 4m a year for a 1.5m a year player like Bickell.

**dogma**

Hlaine Larkin mk2 wrote:

Another option could (Highly unlikely but not impossible) would be to trade away Crawford ($6m Cap hit) and rolling with Ranta & Darling (Who combine for $1.1m)

I don't think any GM would take that cap hit, they would be afraid his numbers were only good because he played behind Toews, Hossa, Keith, Seabrook, and Hjalmarsson. That's 2 of the best defensive forwards in the NHL, and 3 of the best defencemen.

**djones520**

Big news tonight.

3 on 3 OT has been approved.

And the NHL has officially begun the expansion process.

**whembly**

That's awesome imo... far too many games ended up in shootouts.

Also,

Quebec, KC and Las Vegas needs teams.

Quebec / Las Vegas expansion teams.

KC gets Phoenix's team?

**Ensis Ferrae**

whembly wrote:

Quebec, KC and Las Vegas needs teams.

Quebec I can see needing a team.

KC, I kinda see could use a team (though ultimately, I worry that they'd just be taking revenue away from the Blues, though I doubt a "real" Blues fan would change allegiances to a KC team, just because there's a team now)

Las Vegas absolutely does not need a team. In any sport. Period.

**whembly**

Ensis Ferrae wrote:
whembly wrote:

Quebec, KC and Las Vegas needs teams.

Quebec I can see needing a team.

Quebec actually has a rabid fanbase... the trick is finding local (wealthy) owners. However, I suspect Montreal/Ottawa would try to resist since it's in their neck of the woods?

KC, I kinda see could use a team (though ultimately, I worry that they'd just be taking revenue away from the Blues, though I doubt a "real" Blues fan would change allegiances to a KC team, just because there's a team now)

No worries there! KC actually has a brand new, state of the art stadium and potential ownership group.

Las Vegas absolutely does not need a team. In any sport. Period.

Why not?

**Ensis Ferrae**

whembly wrote:
Ensis Ferrae wrote:
whembly wrote:

Quebec, KC and Las Vegas needs teams.

Quebec I can see needing a team.

Quebec actually has a rabid fanbase... the trick is finding local (wealthy) owners. However, I suspect Montreal/Ottawa would try to resist since it's in their neck of the woods?

That's what I was saying... I was saying that I can see how Quebec "needs" a team, They've fairly consistently not shut up about not having a team since they lost their last one

KC, I kinda see could use a team (though ultimately, I worry that they'd just be taking revenue away from the Blues, though I doubt a "real" Blues fan would change allegiances to a KC team, just because there's a team now)

No worries there! KC actually has a brand new, state of the art stadium and potential ownership group.

**Experiment 626**

whembly wrote:
Ensis Ferrae wrote:
whembly wrote:

Quebec, KC and Las Vegas needs teams.

Quebec I can see needing a team.

Quebec actually has a rabid fanbase... the trick is finding local (wealthy) owners. However, I suspect Montreal/Ottawa would try to resist since it's in their neck of the woods?

Montreal is only 100% supportive of the Nordiques returning, as it would rekindle a truly epic rivalry. (and we're still at least 3-4 years away from Toronto resembling anything close to a contender...)
Ottawa likewise has a very large francophone base, and there's plenty of distance between the two cities. (for feth's sake, you're talking about Canada here! 50-100km's is considered 'next door neighbours' status )

The other contender that *SHOULD* be considered but never will be, is to put a new team in Hamilton or the northern GTA. (Markham has long been mentioned, though Oshawa or Kitchener/Waterloo could likely do very well also)
Unfortunately, while the Loafs may offer some token cries of foul, Buffalo will (and has in recent years) gone to great lengths to ensure there's 0 chance of further GTA expansion. I mean, half their season ticket holders are simply Canadians who can't get their hands on Leafs tickets! An option to stay this side of the boarder and simply train/bus it to the games would be the death knell for the Sabers organisation.

**chaos0xomega**

I think Seattle is the most deserving city to get a franchise. Las Vegas and KC I dont really care much either way. Whenever people say "Bring back the Nordiques" I say "Why, so they can get moved to another city when they fail to properly support the team in QC, AGAIN?"

**Ghazkuul**

How does everyone feel about Patrice Bergon Winning his 3rd Selke?

I have heard a lot of people spouting the traditional "EAST COAST CONSPIRACY" so I want to get your opinions.

Personally I think he deserved it more then Toews, primarily because Toews played with Marian Hossa who was in the top 10 for Selke voting as well. Teamed with the fact that the Boston Bruins had probably the most injured Blue line the entire season its easy to see why Bergeron won over Toews. With that said Im glad the voting was close because Toews is amazing.

**Ensis Ferrae**

chaos0xomega wrote:
I think Seattle is the most deserving city to get a franchise.

Not gonna happen. "We" already have a minor league team, which is kind of strike one.

Secondly, most people here who care about bringing more sports into the city are still marching and protesting for "Bring Back the Sonics" It's more of a basketball town than it is hockey. Though in reality, it is much, MUCH more of a football and baseball town based on the fact that Seahawks and Mariners games are usually well attended (there's a long wait list for seahawk games)

Thirdly, the majority of hockey fans I see around here, are all wearing Canucks stuff.

Actually, come to think of it, I think that just about the only way an NHL team would work in Seattle, is if their arrival coincided with the arrival of the "Sonics" again, just to ensure that a new arena was properly used.

**whembly**

Ghazkuul wrote:
How does everyone feel about Patrice Bergon Winning his 3rd Selke?

I have heard a lot of people spouting the traditional "EAST COAST CONSPIRACY" so I want to get your opinions.

Personally I think he deserved it more then Toews, primarily because Toews played with Marian Hossa who was in the top 10 for Selke voting as well. Teamed with the fact that the Boston Bruins had probably the most injured Blue line the entire season its easy to see why Bergeron won over Toews. With that said Im glad the voting was close because Toews is amazing.

While I love Toews... Bergeron deserved it.

No problems with it whatsoever.

What's everyone thoughts on 3-on-3 overtime now? I like it.

**Ghazkuul**

I also want to switch the point system to a 3-2-1 system. 3 points for a win, 2 points for an OT win and 1 point for an OT Loss. I feel it would make more teams try for the win in regulation and have fewer OT games which I find nauseating.

**Ensis Ferrae**

whembly wrote:

What's everyone thoughts on 3-on-3 overtime now? I like it.

I don't know if it'll actually work though. with fewer people on the ice, yes, it speeds up the game, however it also creates a situation where there's less opportunity to screen your shots which as we know improves your odds of success.

**Ghazkuul**

Ensis Ferrae wrote:
whembly wrote:

What's everyone thoughts on 3-on-3 overtime now? I like it.

I don't know if it'll actually work though. with fewer people on the ice, yes, it speeds up the game, however it also creates a situation where there's less opportunity to screen your shots which as we know improves your odds of success.

more chance of break aways though

**dogma**

whembly wrote:

What's everyone thoughts on 3-on-3 overtime now? I like it.

If you want to eliminate the shootout go back to a system where tying is possible. You get 60 regular minutes to win, and 10 minutes to decide. But after that it is a split: 1 point each.

**djones520**

dogma wrote:
whembly wrote:

What's everyone thoughts on 3-on-3 overtime now? I like it.

If you want to eliminate the shootout go back to a system where tying is possible. You get 60 regular minutes to win, and 10 minutes to decide. But after that it is a split: 1 point each.

They don't want to eliminate it. They just want to reduce the number of games that go to it. I believe it was something like 56% of games that went into OT went to a shoot out last season.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Ensis Ferrae wrote:
whembly wrote:

What's everyone thoughts on 3-on-3 overtime now? I like it.

I don't know if it'll actually work though. with fewer people on the ice, yes, it speeds up the game, however it also creates a situation where there's less opportunity to screen your shots which as we know improves your odds of success.

Yes, but there are also fewer blocked shot angles. The AHL has shown that the 3 on 3 is very productive in reducing the number of shootouts. It will carry over into the NHL.

**Ghazkuul**

WHAT THE FETH DID THE BRUINS DO!

I went to the 1st round of the NHL Draft last night in Miami Florida. The bruins traded Lucic to LA for their back up goalie and 14th overall pick

The bruins also traded Dougie Hamilton to Calgary for 3 picks including 16th overall.

It was a bit funny watching the Bruins delegation staying on the stage for 3 picks straight. 14, 15 and 16.